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agrinews-pubs.com
Artificial intelligence is increasingly enhancing and creating new scams in 2025, enabling fraudsters to generate fake profiles, emails, images, audio, and videos to perpetrate investment schemes, romance scams, and impersonation fraud. The FBI recommends protecting oneself by establishing secret verification phrases with family members, hanging up on suspicious calls, avoiding sending money or gift cards to unknown persons, and learning to recognize AI-generated content through online research. Awareness and vigilance are essential defenses against these evolving threats.
deccanherald.com
A Bengaluru-based chartered accountant lost Rs 23.20 lakh in a stock investment scam that used deepfake videos of billionaires Mukesh Ambani, Narayana Murthy, and Sudha Murty to appear legitimate. After encountering the manipulated videos on Facebook in October 2024, the victim provided personal details, registered on a fraudulent website, and made multiple transfers between October and December 2024, only to be denied withdrawal requests and asked for additional payments. Police registered the case in January 2025 and are investigating the money trail and tracing the involved banks.
states.aarp.org
Imposter scams using AI and deepfake technology are among the most prevalent forms of fraud in 2024, with Floridians reporting approximately 35,000 complaints to the FTC between January and September. Scammers impersonate government officials, celebrities, and tech support representatives to steal money and personal information through spoofed calls, texts, emails, and convincing video calls. The article provides red flags to recognize these scams—such as demands for cryptocurrency payments, unsolicited security alerts, and threats of arrest—and advises victims to report incidents to law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline.
studyfinds.org
A French woman in her 50s lost €830,000 ($1.2 million) to scammers posing as actor Brad Pitt using AI-generated fake photos, resulting in her financial ruin and three suicide attempts. The article details how romance fraud operates through a predictable pattern—fake profiles on dating sites, building trust through "love bombing," and escalating money requests—and notes that victims are often highly educated people seeking emotional connection rather than lacking judgment. Research indicates romance fraud affects both men and women globally, with Canadian authorities reporting 420 cases in 2022 resulting in $59 million in losses.
wionews.com
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 ($850,000) to Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated photos to impersonate Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and convince her they were in a romantic relationship, claiming he needed money for medical treatment. The case exemplifies how Nigerian fraudsters, historically known for romance and sextortion scams, are adopting AI and deepfake technology to exploit victims, with cybercrime experts warning this technological evolution threatens to undermine years of progress in combating internet fraud.
24-7pressrelease.com
AI-powered scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated in 2025, with fraudsters using artificial intelligence to create convincing phishing emails, deepfake videos, and fake dating profiles that manipulate victims into sharing financial or personal information. The scams span investment fraud, identity theft, and romance schemes, affecting millions worldwide. Protection requires strong cyber hygiene practices including multi-factor authentication, security software, profile verification through reverse image searches, and reporting suspected fraud to authorities like the Federal Trade Commission.
globalnews.ca
Halifax police issued warnings about two suspects involved in multiple "grandparent scams" targeting seniors in the area, where callers impersonated arrested family members and demanded bail money, arranging to collect cash in person or via mail. Police emphasize that law enforcement and court officials never collect bail money at residences and urge seniors to hang up on such calls, avoid providing personal information, and verify caller identity before responding to money requests.
kxxv.com
McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara warned the public about a surge in cryptocurrency scams where scammers contact victims via email or text with threats (such as bail money needed or arrest warrants) to pressure them into depositing money into crypto kiosks. Reported losses from these scams jumped dramatically from $32,033 in 2023 to $3.84 million in the following year, with victims losing entire life savings; one New Braunfels woman lost $111,000, though another victim recovered $15,000 after police obtained a search warrant. Authorities advise victims to contact law enforcement immediately and warn that elderly individuals are frequently targeted by these
cbsnews.com
The Better Business Bureau warns of four common tax season scams: tax identity theft through phishing and data breaches, email phishing impersonating the IRS, IRS impersonation via spoofed phone calls demanding payment under threats of arrest, and fraudulent "ghost" tax preparers who charge high fees and disappear. According to the IRS, taxpayers lost $5.5 billion to tax scams and fraud in 2023, and the BBB recommends verifying businesses, using personal accounts for deposits, and filing early to protect against these schemes.
eagletimes.com
Scammers posing as Eversource energy company representatives are targeting customers in New Hampshire with threats to disconnect power unless they make immediate payments, using scare tactics to pressure victims into handing over money or personal information. Eversource and local police warn that the company never demands instant payment over the phone, requests gift cards or prepaid cards, or asks for personal information in unsolicited communications. Residents are advised to hang up on suspicious callers, verify requests through official company channels, and report incidents to local police.
nbc-2.com
Florida drivers are being targeted by a phishing scam via text message impersonating SunPass, the state's electronic toll collection system, which falsely claims unpaid tolls are due by January 21, 2025, and threatens late fees and legal action to pressure recipients into clicking a malicious link. The scam is designed to steal personal information or money, and SunPass does not typically send unsolicited text payment demands; recipients should ignore the link and instead verify account information directly through the official SunPass website or customer service. Those who receive the fraudulent message should report it to their mobile carrier, the FTC, or Florida's Attorney General.
nbcnews.com
Criminals are sending text messages to people across the United States claiming they owe money for unpaid tolls, attempting to trick victims into revealing their banking information. Authorities have issued a warning about this scam as part of broader efforts to alert the public to fraudulent toll-related schemes.
wktn.com
The Auglaize County Sheriff's Office issued a public awareness alert urging residents to recognize elder fraud threats, which include phone calls, emails, pop-ups, text messages, and letters targeting seniors. The advisory recommends not sharing personal information with unverified callers, avoiding sending money or gift cards to strangers, verifying emergency claims and prize winnings through trusted sources, and reporting suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission.
newsbug.info
Oak Grove Christian Retirement Village hosted an educational program featuring DeMotte police officials who presented information on elder financial abuse, which affects over 13% of American seniors annually and costs victims more than $3 billion yearly. The presentation covered eleven common scam types targeting seniors—including grandparent scams, charity fraud, phishing, and tax scams—while noting that victims aged 80-89, particularly women and those living alone, are most vulnerable, and that only 1 in 44 incidents are reported due to embarrassment and fear of losing independence. Attendees learned protective strategies such as verifying requests before sending money, monitoring financial statements, and reporting scams to the FTC or calling
etedge-insights.com
A 60-year-old technology professional in Bengaluru lost ₹2.8 crore to a sophisticated "free gift" scam in which a fraudster posed as a bank representative and delivered a smartphone preloaded with malicious software and a cloning app. After the victim inserted his SIM card, scammers gained remote access to his device, altered his bank account's registered mobile number, and siphoned funds from his fixed deposits. The article advises protecting against such scams by verifying unsolicited offers through official channels, inspecting unexpected devices before use, enabling two-factor authentication, and remaining skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
substack.com
A Twitter/X account holder was compromised after falling for a phishing scam involving a fake copyright infringement notice email that mimicked official platform communications. The attacker gained access by trick the user into logging through a fraudulent form, then locked them out by adding themselves as a delegate account manager—a feature that persists even after password changes and two-factor authentication is disabled. The victim was unable to regain control despite attempting platform support, which provided only automated responses and could not resolve the issue due to the delegation exploit.
pandasecurity.com
A French woman, Anne, lost approximately $850,000 in an 18-month romance scam in which a cybercriminal impersonated Brad Pitt and his mother on Instagram, using AI-generated fake images to build an emotional relationship and eventually convince her to fund fake medical and legal expenses. After discovering the deception when the real Brad Pitt appeared at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, Anne reported the crime and shared her story publicly to raise awareness, but subsequently suffered severe cyberbullying and depression. The case highlights the prevalence of romance scams, which cost victims over a billion dollars in 2023, and demonstrates how fraudsters exploit emotional vulnerability and celebrity admiration to manipulate
nypost.com
The FBI warns that phishing emails using urgent language like "act fast" are increasingly common red flags for scams, particularly those impersonating disaster relief charities or celebrities to solicit donations—with over 4,500 complaints reporting $96 million in losses to fraudulent charities and relief campaigns in 2024. The agency advises recipients to avoid clicking links or opening attachments from unknown senders, verify URLs and email addresses for errors, and never provide usernames or passwords to unsolicited messages. AI-powered scams are making fraud more sophisticated and believable, including romance schemes and impersonation scams that have cost victims thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
dfpi.ca.gov
Following Southern California wildfires, the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation warns consumers to avoid scams targeting disaster victims, particularly deed-transfer foreclosure schemes, intentional default fraud, and advance-fee loan modification scams. The DFPI advises homeowners to contact their mortgage servicer directly or a HUD-certified counselor for legitimate relief options, and urges all consumers to verify company licensing before borrowing or investing. Residents can report complaints to the DFPI at dfpi.ca.gov or call 866-275-2677.
press-herald.com
A call forwarding scam targets banking customers by impersonating financial institutions and tricking victims into activating call forwarding codes (*72 or *401) that redirect incoming calls to scammers, who then intercept sensitive account information. To protect against this increasingly common fraud, consumers should never enter forwarding codes on unsolicited calls, avoid sharing account information over the phone, verify caller identity independently, monitor accounts for suspicious activity, and hang up and call their bank directly using trusted contact information when something seems suspicious.
secretservice.gov
Pig butchering is a billion-dollar cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme where scammers build trust with victims—often through fake romantic relationships on dating apps or unsolicited social media contact—and convince them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency projects that promise high returns. Victims are gradually encouraged to transfer increasing amounts of money until they suffer financial ruin, with the scammer disappearing once substantial funds have been obtained. To protect yourself, avoid unsolicited investment advice from online contacts, verify investment legitimacy through regulatory authorities, never share personal financial information with people you haven't met in person, and be suspicious of projects with guaranteed high returns or romantic interests who refuse to meet in person or appear on video calls.
coinbase.com
Job scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with reported losses tripling between 2020 and 2023 to reach over $220 million in the first half of 2024. Common red flags include unsolicited job offers, requests for upfront payments, overpayment schemes involving fake checks, and cryptocurrency payment requests, with "task scams" accounting for nearly 40% of job scam reports in 2024. To protect yourself, verify employer credentials through official channels, avoid sharing sensitive information, use reputable job boards, and report suspicious activity to authorities like the FTC.
cxtoday.com
A CloudSek study found that Zendesk's free trial offering is vulnerable to abuse by scammers who create fake brand-impersonating subdomains to conduct phishing attacks and "pig butchering" investment scams. The research identified several cases over six months where Zendesk clients were targeted by fraudulent domains, demonstrating how attackers could exploit the platform's lack of email verification to deceive employees into clicking malicious links or revealing sensitive data. The report recommends blacklisting unverified Zendesk instances, using detection tools to identify suspicious subdomains, and implementing employee phishing awareness training to mitigate the risk.
theconversation.com
A French woman in her 50s named Anne lost €830,000 ($1.2 million) to romance scammers who impersonated Brad Pitt using AI-generated fake photos, resulting in three suicide attempts and public harassment after her story aired on French television. Romance fraud is an emotional manipulation scam where fraudsters build trust through fake online relationships before soliciting money, often targeting highly educated individuals and affecting both men and women equally. Research shows victims are not lacking in judgment but rather psychologically vulnerable people seeking emotional connection, making them susceptible to the predictable scam pattern of initial contact, platform switching, excuses to avoid meetings, trust-building through "love bombing," and escalating
citybeat.com
Pamela Moore, a 66-year-old grandmother with no prior criminal record, was sentenced to 24 months in prison in August 2024 for money laundering related to online romance scams. Between 2020 and 2023, Moore's bank accounts received over $8 million in criminally derived funds from romance scammers nationwide, and she personally converted approximately $1.7 million to Bitcoin at the scammers' direction. Moore herself had initially lost six figures to the same scammers after becoming emotionally vulnerable following her husband's death in 2015, eventually being manipulated into laundering their illicit proceeds through a fraudulent shell company.
m.economictimes.com
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 ($850,000) to Nigerian scammers who impersonated actor Brad Pitt through AI-generated photos and fake romantic contact on Instagram, claiming he needed money for medical treatment. The case highlights how Nigerian fraudsters are evolving romance scams by incorporating deepfake and AI technologies, with authorities investigating three men in their 20s based in Nigeria. This represents a dangerous escalation of traditional "Yahoo Boys" internet fraud schemes that have plagued West Africa for years.
abc7news.com
A Walnut Creek senior was targeted in a "grandson scam" where a caller impersonating her grandson said he was in jail and needed $7,500 in bail money; she withdrew the cash and gave it to a courier at her gated community, then was asked for an additional $5,000. This was the second such incident at Rossmoor in four months, and bank employees attempted to intervene both times by questioning the large cash withdrawals. Walnut Creek police recommend verifying emergency calls with other family members and establishing a family password to prevent such fraud.
fosters.com
Hampton residents lost nearly $1 million to phone, email, text, and social media scams over 13 months, with many involving cryptocurrency, according to Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno—though he notes this represents only reported cases. One particularly devastating case involved a "pig butchering scheme" where a resident lost $480,000 after a scammer built trust through social media before introducing a fraudulent investment opportunity. The Hampton Police Department has become New Hampshire's first law enforcement agency to open a Coinbase account to potentially freeze and recover stolen cryptocurrency, and the chief urges residents to contact police before sending money rather than after they've been victimized.
seacoastonline.com
In Hampton, residents lost approximately $1 million to phone, email, text, and social media scams over a 13-month period ending January 2025, with many involving cryptocurrency. Police Chief Alex Reno noted that reported losses likely represent only a fraction of actual fraud losses, as victims often do not report incidents due to embarrassment.
express.co.uk
Beauty expert Molly fell victim to a sophisticated Amazon account scam in which a caller impersonating an Amazon fraud team member placed multiple iPhone 16 orders in her basket to establish credibility, then requested a one-time verification code to "close" her account—a tactic designed to gain unauthorized access. After the scammer hung up mid-call, the fraudulent orders disappeared, forcing Molly to cancel all her bank cards and change her passwords as a precaution. The incident highlights how scammers can manipulate even security-conscious individuals by exploiting trust and urgency, prompting wider awareness among social media users who shared similar experiences.
wnyt.com
A Glenmont man's Facebook account was hacked during the holidays, and scammers used it to post fake Buffalo Bills season ticket listings. A Slingerlands woman, believing she was messaging her Facebook friend, sent $880 total through Apple Cash and bank transfer ($380, $500, and $300 for supposed parking and transfer fees) before becoming suspicious when the Bills box office confirmed they don't charge transfer fees. The victim filed a police report and is disputing the charges with her bank, while the account owner reported the incident to the FTC and New York Attorney General's Office.
mainlinemedianews.com
State Rep. Chris Pielli and the Housing Authority of Chester County hosted a "Scam Jam" educational program featuring experts from state and local law enforcement to help residents identify and avoid fraud targeting vulnerable populations, particularly seniors. The program covered multiple scam types including grandparent scams using emotional triggers, caregiver fraud involving isolated victims, romance scams, and impersonation schemes that exploit technology and social media information.
wibx950.com
The New York State Thruway Authority is warning residents of a phishing scam targeting EZ Pass and Tolls by Mail customers through text messages and emails that falsely claim an outstanding balance. The fraudulent messages prompt victims to click links and enter sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and credit card details. The authority recommends verifying suspicious messages directly with official channels, reporting phishing attempts to the FTC and US-CERT, and contacting the Tolls by Mail Customer Service Center at 1-844-826-8400 if victimized.
sooleader.com
The Michigan State Police Alpena Post issued a warning about rising online and phone scams, noting that the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received 880,418 complaints with losses exceeding $12.5 billion in 2023. Common scams reported locally include computer antivirus pop-up scams requesting financial information or remote access, and threatening extortion emails demanding payment via bitcoin or gift cards. The MSP advised citizens never to make payments through cash apps or gift cards to unknown sources, never share banking information over the phone, and never click links in suspicious emails.
newsbug.info
Oak Grove Christian Retirement Village hosted an educational presentation by DeMotte police on January 8 covering elder financial abuse, which costs seniors over $3 billion annually with more than 13% of American elders victimized yearly. The presentation outlined eleven common scam types targeting seniors (including grandparent scams, charity fraud, identity theft, and tech support scams), noting that victims aged 80-89, particularly women living alone, face the highest risk and that underreporting remains severe due to embarrassment and fear of losing independence. Key protective measures include monthly financial monitoring, verifying requests by calling contacts directly, reporting fraud to the FTC, and consulting trusted advisors before financial decisions.
tcpalm.com
Two individuals were arrested as "couriers" in gold bar scams that defrauded at least three Indian River Shores residents of nearly $2 million in early 2024. The scams involved fake government officials calling victims and instructing them to purchase gold bars, which couriers then collected in person; one 77-year-old woman lost $156,000 across two separate meetings, handing over gold bars worth approximately $72,904 and $83,000. Rakeshbhai Harshadbhai Patel, 35, was arrested in January 2025, and Syed Makki, 36, was arrested in Colorado and awaits ext
olathereporter.com
Russell Rahm, 54, of Olathe, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his central role in what prosecutors describe as the largest elder fraud conspiracy in U.S. history, involving over 60 defendants and 100,000 victims who were defrauded of more than $300 million over 24 years through telemarketing scams. As owner and CEO of Kansas-based companies including Subscription Ink Co. and Millennium Marketing, Rahm orchestrated fraudulent magazine sales schemes using deceptive scripts targeting vulnerable and elderly consumers, personally collecting approximately $103 million from victims; he has been ordered to pay $110 million in restitution. The
hindustantimes.com
A 53-year-old French woman lost €830,000 to Nigerian scammers who used AI-generated photos to impersonate actor Brad Pitt and convince her they were in a romantic relationship, claiming the actor needed money for medical treatment. The case highlights how Nigerian internet fraudsters, known as "Yahoo Boys," are adopting AI and deepfake technology to conduct romance scams, a tactic experts warn could significantly increase the effectiveness and prevalence of such fraud schemes.
edmondlifeandleisure.com
**Title:** Get Ready for Scams in the Digital Age
Adults aged 60 and older reported over 100,000 complaints to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2023, resulting in losses exceeding $3.4 billion—an 11% increase from 2022. Common scams targeting seniors include phishing, Medicare and health insurance fraud, and tech support scams. Protection strategies include staying skeptical of unexpected communications, avoiding sharing personal information online, monitoring finances for unauthorized activity, and reporting suspected fraud immediately to relevant authorities including the FTC, Medicare, or financial institutions.
govtech.com
State Rep. Chris Pielli and the Housing Authority of Chester County hosted an educational "Scam Jam" program featuring experts from law enforcement and banking agencies to inform residents about common fraud schemes targeting seniors. The program highlighted various scams including grandparent scams using emotional manipulation and AI voice mimicry, elder financial abuse by caregivers, romance scams, and phishing schemes like fake EZ Pass notifications, emphasizing that scammers exploit social media information and that even intelligent people can be deceived.
salon.com
This article is a political opinion piece criticizing Donald Trump's inauguration and the MAGA movement, not an article about elder fraud, scams, or elder abuse. It contains political commentary about Trump's appearance, demeanor, and leadership style, but no information relevant to elder fraud research.
investopedia.com
The IRS Criminal Investigation unit uncovered over $9.1 billion in tax fraud and financial crimes in 2024, with scams expected to peak during the 2025 tax-filing season. Common tactics include scammers impersonating IRS agents or tax preparers to claim taxpayers owe additional taxes or are due larger refunds, with threats of arrest or requests for bank details to steal information. Retired taxpayers and those nearing retirement are frequent targets, and experts recommend taking time to verify communications and avoiding pressure from scammers rather than responding immediately.
manchesterjournal.com
Vermont's Attorney General reported 3,533 scam reports in 2024, with "Computer Tech Support" scams leading at nearly 30% of reports—a position it has held for four consecutive years—followed by identity theft and law enforcement imposter scams. Email extortion scams made a concerning return after a four-year absence, now featuring screen-captured images of victims' homes to increase pressure for compliance. The state is strengthening consumer protection by merging its scam alert system with Vermont's existing emergency alert infrastructure, which will reach approximately 72,000 users and offer real-time notifications to help residents identify and avoid fraud.
kfyrtv.com
During tax season, scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated tactics including unlicensed "ghost preparers" who disappear after filing taxes without proper credentials, fraudulent requests for Bitcoin payments (which the IRS does not accept), and phishing scams via text messages that impersonate banks and credit unions to steal personal information. The IRS warns that legitimate tax authorities will never initiate contact by phone or text and always send official letters first, and individuals can verify IRS correspondence using tools on the agency's website.
newsweek.com
An uptick in jury duty scams has been reported across multiple U.S. locations, where scammers impersonate court officials or police officers and threaten victims with fines or arrest for allegedly missing jury duty, demanding immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers. Incidents have been documented in Elkhart County, Indiana and Hopkinsville, Kentucky, with authorities emphasizing that legitimate courts communicate about jury duty through official mail only and never solicit payments or personal information by phone or email. Citizens should verify caller claims independently, avoid immediate payments, and report suspicious calls to local law enforcement or the court clerk's office.
audacy.com
Post-holiday phishing scams target shoppers reviewing credit card statements by impersonating rewards programs and falsely offering points redemption for free items or cash. These malicious emails use fake sender addresses and redirect victims to fraudulent websites designed to steal money, personal information, and install malware. Consumers should verify sender email addresses, avoid clicking suspicious links, and confirm reward offers directly with companies before responding.
cityofpasadena.net
**Summary:** Disaster victims are at risk of fraud from scammers posing as contractors, adjusters, or repair workers who contact them via door-to-door visits, phone calls, or emails. Survivors should verify any adjuster's credentials through the California Department of Insurance website, carefully review contracts, and understand fee structures before signing, with a dedicated hotline (626-744-4241) available to report suspected fraud.
goldrushcam.com
Three defendants were charged by federal grand jury for operating PageTurner, a fake book publishing scheme that defrauded over 800 elderly authors of approximately $44 million between September 2017 and December 2024. The scammers, including Gemma Traya Austin of Chula Vista and two Philippine-based executives, contacted victims unsolicited and falsely promised that their books would be published or turned into films if they paid upfront fees for taxes and transaction costs. All three defendants were arrested in December 2024 and face charges including mail and wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.
gvwire.com
A 24-year-old Los Angeles man was arrested after defrauding a 79-year-old Tulare woman of $9,600 in a grandparent scam, where he impersonated a bail bondsman claiming her grandson had been arrested. Detectives followed a courier to a restaurant in Castaic where the suspect, Manuel Rivera Cueto, was apprehended attempting to flee with money from a second extortion attempt; he admitted to acting as a "mule" in approximately 10 similar schemes and revealed the operation's main orchestrators were based in the Dominican Republic.